What if we could teach children not just what colors are—but how they feel?
That’s the heart behind Colorfully, Leo, a vibrant 2D hybrid short film created by Cheska Marriane G. Gutierrez, Kien Jules Alimane, Cathard John Angana, and Reuben Lance Gaspan, students from La Consolacion College Bacolod’s Fine Arts Digital Media program. More than just a visually rich animation, this project is a personal, purposeful response to a very real problem: color misinterpretation, especially among children.
“Despite our training in digital media and art, we realized even we had misunderstood some color-emotion associations because of how media and society presented them,” the team admits. “So we asked ourselves—what if we could help the next generation grow up understanding these relationships better?”
Enter Leo, the curious, bright-eyed protagonist of their film, who embarks on a fantasy journey through color-coded worlds—each one expressing a different emotional theme. Think Inside Out, but more grounded in design theory and visual literacy. The film weaves fantasy and education together seamlessly, creating a storytelling experience that’s as enchanting as it is enlightening.
And the format? That’s where it gets interesting.
Colorfully, Leo is a 2D-live action hybrid—a bold and technically demanding decision. “We did multiple tech runs,” the group explains, “to figure out how the 2D characters would interact with real-life settings. It wasn’t just about making it look good. It had to feel right, especially when it came to how colors shaped the emotional tone of a scene.”
The result is a smooth, immersive visual experience that teaches viewers not just to recognize colors—but to feel them. A bold red doesn’t always mean anger. A soft blue isn’t always sadness. The film shows that emotional associations vary by context, culture, and personal experience—a powerful idea for young audiences just beginning to understand their inner world.
But Colorfully, Leo isn’t just for entertainment. The creators envision it as a teaching tool—one that educators can use in art, values education, or media literacy classes. Its accessible tone and warm visuals make it ideal for sparking conversations about emotions, color theory, and even mental wellness.
“At the end of the day, we hope it helps children become more emotionally aware and visually literate,” the team shares. “Because color isn’t just a design choice—it’s a language. And we want to teach them how to speak it with intention.”
Colorfully, Leo is more than a student film. It’s a fresh, thoughtful attempt to brighten the way we learn—and feel—one hue at a time.